This is not good:
Among young people ages 14 to 24 who received care in a hospital emergency department for assault-related injuries, 23% said they owned a firearm in the past six months. And only 17% of those reporting firearm possession obtained it legally, says the report, in the August issue of the journal Pediatrics, published online today.
According to Michelle Healy, 34% of American households possess one or more firearms. Other disturbing findings:
- Those with firearms were more likely to use illegal drugs, have been involved in a serious fight, and to endorse the position that “revenge was a good thing,” and that it was “OK to hurt people if they hurt you first.”
- 22% reported ownership of highly lethal automatic/semiautomatic weapons.
- 37% said they had a gun primarily for protection; 10% said they were “holding it for someone”; 9% said they have a gun because their “friends carry guns.”
- 52% reported that it would be little or no trouble to obtain a firearm.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this study raises all sorts of red flags. There is no argument — none — that anyone can make that makes this acceptable in any way. I know our constitution doesn’t say this is OK. I know common sense says it’s not at all OK. Is this really what we want for our children?
Is it?
Previous coverage of gun safety on The PediaBlog here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Pediatrics article here.